You can see it coming now. McHenry County College is headed for its own police department.
Today's editorial in the Northwest Herald compares the campus of less than 7,400 students with the towns of Harvard, Hebron, Richmond - even Bull Valley.
The Director of MCC Security is already drooling over plans to order two 2010 police interceptor vehicles for $68,000! What? To catch speeders on the ring road where the college refuses to increase the speed limit above the still-illegal 15MPH posted speed limit?
How many incidents have there been at MCC that have required police response?
How's this for a case of serious crime, reported recently in the Northwest Herald? A girl arriving on campus hit a car while parking and went on to class. She was arrested and taken to jail. That's a load of c-r-a-p. Is there even a vehicular control agreement between the College and the Crystal Lake P.D., which would give the C.L. PD the authority to enforce traffic laws on campus?
For this, they need a police department?
Today's editorial informs readers that the College pays $46.00/hour to rent a cop (from C.L. PD?), with a four-hour minimum. Who is riding that gravy train? And some thought it was extortion when Sheriff Nygren stuck it to Galt Airport for $40.00 for a deputy for security!
OK, folks. If you do nothing, MCC is going to roll with this deal. You can bank on it. What can you do?
Call the office of the college president, Vicky Smith, on Monday and tell her what you think. Then back it up in writing with an email, fax or letter to her and to the Board of Trustees. (You'll have to ask her secretary for her email address; it is nowhere to be found on the MCC website.) And then figure out when the next Board meeting is, and be there. And speak out.
All those 7,400 students are not there at the same time.
There are no commercial businesses on campus.
There are no bedrooms on campus.
There are no bars on campus.
There are no fraternities on campus.
There are no restaurants on campus.
Really irritated by this move? Pick up an application to run for election as a Trustee. See the MCC homepage at http://www.mchenry.edu/ Submit petitions between December 13-20, 2010.
A comment on the MCC website. It shouldn't be so hard to find the name of the new president of the college!
Does the college believe in transparency? Look under the Board of Trustees tab on the homepage. Click on Board news. The one and only piece of information there is about something that happened in March 2008!
MCC does not need armed police officers looking for dents in the parking lot or for students who park in two spaces! And it certainly doesn't need high-powered, lightning-fast, interceptor squad cars. Maybe a golf cart or two, or a Segway (oh, that's too dangerous; the owner of the company that makes Segways just drove one of a cliff and died).
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1 comment:
Yes and No...
Keep in mind that Rock Valley College (Rockford)is smaller than MCC and has a Police Dept. I think they call them Public Safety Officers. Harper College has a Police Dept. Most similarly situated colleges do in some form.
I think the idea is safety and having some armed police especially out in the parking areas where young women are walking in the late hours is a good idea.
I agree there is no reason for a Ford Interceptor. A small 4x4 P/U or small Suv cross over would be more suitable. Handles snow plus is roomy and dependable. Staff the department with EXPEREINCED police officers such as retired local retired Troopers / police /deputies that don't want to 'make a name" for themselve but have experience in dealing with people. You could avoid the issue of "benefits" as most would be PT.
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